It was with heavy hearts that we published today that Bill Ryder Jones has left The Coral.
In a brief statement on their website the band said: “The Coral would like to announce that Bill Ryder-Jones has left the band. The Coral will carry on as a five piece and are currently writing and recording new material.�
It was something that we had been expecting fo a while, but it still makes me sad that one of my favourite bands is to lose a founder member.
In my time at the ECHO, Bill has been incredibly helpful and devoted his time to writing various pieces for features, each time showing staggering eloquence and a vast musical knowledge.
When the news broke I called Alan Wills, managing director of Deltasonic Records, who said: “Of course we’re all sorry to see Bill go, and we wish him all the best in whatever new projects he decides to do.
“The Coral are the band that put Deltasonic on the map, and he played a huge part in creating their sound.
“Bill is a hugely talented musician, and a good friend, but he was 16 when The Coral got signed and I think he’s looking to see what life outside the band is like.
“He had been thinking of leaving for a few months, but wanted to do the Christmas shows. Now a definite decision has been made the band are stronger than ever.�
The Coral formed in 1996 as the six teenagers from Hoylake would meet at each others’ houses and the school music room to jam.
They were spotted by former-Shack drummer Alan, who was so impressed by their talents he created Liverpool-based record label Deltasonic around them.
Their self-titled debut album was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Prize and later voted the fourth best album of the year by NME Magazine.
Second album Magic and Medicine reached number one on the UK albums chart.
Noel Gallagher asked them to record current album Roots and Echoes in his studio, and joined the band onstage at the BBC Electric Proms in October.
It is the second time Bill has left the band, after leaving in 2005 only to eventually return. But this time it seems it's final. We wish him all the best, and look forward to his next venture.
The Coral release their new single, Put The Sun Back, on February 11.